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Electromagnetic Waves cheat sheet

The whole chapter on one page: key formulas, facts and the points to remember, for quick revision before a test.

JEE · Physics

Cheat sheet

Class 12 · Chapter 8Electromagnetic Waves

Radio, Micro, IR, Visible, UV, X, Gamma — “Raging Martians Invaded Venus Using X-ray Guns”.

1. Properties

  • Produced by accelerated charges.
  • E and B oscillate ⊥ to each other and to propagation.
  • Transverse; need no medium.
c=1μ0ε0c = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{\mu_0\varepsilon_0}}E0B0=c\dfrac{E_0}{B_0} = c

Displacement current Id=ε0dΦEdtI_d = \varepsilon_0\dfrac{d\Phi_E}{dt} (Maxwell).

2. EM Spectrum

WaveWavelengthUse
Radio
0.1 m
broadcasting
Microwave1 mm – 0.1 mradar, ovens
Infrared700 nm – 1 mmremote controls, heating
Visible400–700 nmvision
Ultraviolet1–400 nmsterilisation
X-rays0.01–10 nmmedical imaging
Gamma rays< 0.01 nmcancer treatment

3. Key Points

  • EM waves carry energy and momentum.
  • Ozone absorbs UV.
  • Greenhouse effect involves IR.
  • Hertz first produced EM waves.

Remember: Displacement current | c = 1/√(μ₀ε₀) | spectrum order

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